English Language Standards in Higher Education

Book excerpt: The monumental impact of globalization on the higher education sector has placed the English language skills of tertiary students firmly under the spotlight. This book addresses the inherent issues faced by: a growing band of transnational students, lecturers across all disciplines who are charged with delivering the courses, and universities in both English-speaking nations and those where English is the primary medium of instruction. The underpinning tenets of this pivotal book are that English language acquisition is central to academic success, and that this requires continuous and systematic development throughout the course of study. Steeped in empirical research, yet conveyed in a concise, highly accessible form, the book acknowledges that there is no 'one-size-fits-all' solution. Instead, it proposes a variety of constructive approaches to developing English language proficiency at the face-to-face lecturing level, as well as frameworks for pedagogical planning at an institutional level. English Language Standards in Higher Education is the quintessential resource for academics, language policymakers, researchers, and senior administrators to ensure the English language proficiency of students is not only present at the time of entry, but upheld and enhanced throughout their tertiary studies, in preparation for life beyond.